Cochrane's Bethany Care is bringing creativity to a special group of residents.

Shannon Lappin, Recreation Assistant for Bethany Care, is one of roughly 40 trained facilitators bringing creativity, decision making, and exploration to residents who may feel more restricted. Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) is an art-making program that is specifically designed for those diagnosed with dementia. 

Lappin shares the program they just wrapped up included 12 dementia diagnosed residents with a volunteer each from all three sectors of Bethany Cochrane from those living in long-term care to supportive living to residents strictly in adult day programs. "It is a failure free program where we do abstract art, so it is not painting a tree or flower, it is totally abstract, it is all about creative self-expression of where that person is that day."

The 12 participants created six projects directed and supported by their volunteer but Lappin shares in no way did the volunteers do the artwork."They explain the steps, step by step what's coming next, we provide a general guideline of what that project entails and provide all the materials for that project, but really the residents have free reign on how they use those materials."

Lappin shares that even though the projects are designed with step by step instruction, it gives choices to participants which is extremely important. "There are choices for our folks, so choices of paper colour, paint colour, material choices that they want to use in their art. So let's just say one project may have six steps to it, with those steps, we provide one step at a time and they can do what they want, so they can go as far as they want to within that step. For example the first step in watercolour they would choose their colours usually between two choices so it is not too overwhelming for them but from there they choose how much of the paper they want to paint on. So it's all these little choices within each of the steps that make it their own piece of art."

Just as valuable as the artwork is the relationship the residents build with their one on one volunteer. Committing to just over two months between the training and the art show, the volunteers meet with the resident once a week. "So it is really about building that trust and rapport between two people and that is where we really saw some great stuff happen. Not that the folks necessarily remember the project from the week prior but it is a feeling that they can trust that person that comes into their world once a week."

The benefits OMA provides is huge, shares Lappin. "It has been incredible. All those things that promote well-being; engagement, choice, personal accomplishment, confidence, and friendship. It's that creative self-expression, it's their way, on their terms, and failure-free artwork that they take ownership of."

Lappin held an art show at the end of November with each participant contributing two pieces of artwork to be auctioned off. The art sale proceeds go directly to supporting OMA and it's continuation. While Lappin did not have a confirmed total of funds she did say people were very generous and she is hopeful to offer the program again in spring.